Wasps 38 Glasgow 26

WASPS head coach Tony Hanks was proud of his players after the London club came close to pulling off a shock victory at the reigning Heineken Cup champions.

FAR from a bright beginning for new Leinster coach Joe Schmidt as his side were given a lesson in organisation, intensity and clinical finishing by Shaun Edwards’ London-based boys in a friendly at Donnybrook last night.

Leinster 6 London Wasps 41, Donnybrook

Wasps 15 Cardiff Blues 18

NORTHAMPTON staged the kind of second-half comeback at Wasps yesterday that their Heineken Cup opponents Munster could have done with in the RDS, but still came up short, losing 20-15.

Former UCD out-half Eoghan Hickey has signed a one year contract that will see him move from London Irish to London Wasps as back-up to Danny Cipriani and Dave Walder.

Castres 21 Wasps 15

There is uncertainty over the fitness of Leinster's two first choice props CJ van der Linde and Stan Wright ahead of their crucial Pool 2 Heineken Cup encounter with London Wasps at Twickenham on Saturday.

Dan Carter admitted it felt like his “first day at school” as he led Perpignan to a 26-20 Heineken Cup victory over Leicester yesterday.

Fly-half Dave Walder produced another man-of-the-match performance as Wasps strengthened their chances of reaching the Heineken Cup quarter-finals with victory over Edinburgh.

DEFIANT England boss Andy Robinson is confident he can put his ailing world champions back on track despite another season of underachievement in the Six Nations.

Andy Robinson has wielded the axe after England’s French farce and dropped six World Cup winners for the Six Nations Championship finale against Ireland at Twickenham on Saturday.

Jonny Wilkinson must pass a fitness test on New Year’s Day morning before Newcastle will confirm he is ready for a return to action.

BRISTOL became only the second side to inflict a league defeat on Guinness Premiership leaders Sale Sharks yesterday when they beat them 22-14 at the Memorial Stadium.

JONNY WILKINSON’S faithful understudy will step into the Heineken Cup spotlight today after firing a defiant message at Newcastle’s European detractors.

England boss Andy Robinson was tonight reeling from the worst possible blow to his Six Nations plans – losing World Cup hero Jonny Wilkinson.

Newcastle were tonight counting the cost of a damaging trip to Perpignan that has rocked their Heineken Cup quarter-final hopes.

Worcester coach Andy Keast has vowed his team will “come back fighting” against London Irish on New Year’s Day after they returned to the Zurich Premiership basement.

Jonny Wilkinson tonight set his sights on possible Heineken Cup glory, and declared: “It is the biggest goal I have left in rugby.”

Edinburgh 10 Newcastle 13

Neath-Swansea Ospreys 24 Harlequins 7

Newcastle 34 Edinburgh 24

Newcastle Falcons recorded a magnificent 19-14 win over French visitors Perpignan thanks to a dominant first-half forward display.

Newcastle shrugged off the absence of England superstar Jonny Wilkinson to grind out a priceless Heineken Cup away win at rain-lashed Rodney Parade.

Newcastle hope to make an overwhelming case for the defence when they tackle Zurich Premiership rivals Saracens at Kingston Park tomorrow.

ROB ANDREW last night allayed the latest injury fears surrounding England captain Jonny Wilkinson, by declaring: “Physically, he’s fine.”

Clive Woodward questioned the wisdom of yesterday’s end-of-season Barbarians fixture after watching his scratch England side go down 32-12 at Twickenham.

England 12 Barbarians 32

Hugh Vyvyan will captain England in next Sunday’s non-cap clash against the Barbarians at Twickenham.

LONDON IRISH head coach Gary Gold praised his side’s “courageous display” in their 16-15 win over Newcastle in their final home Zurich Premiership game of the season.

Newcastle Falcons 15 London Irish 16

TWO moments of Gallic brilliance from Thomas Castaignede and two tries from Sevens star Richard Haughton inspired Saracens to end their winter slump at Vicarage Road yesterday.

London Irish face a testing Parker Pen Challenge Cup trip to Narbonne tomorrow, with coach Gary Gold admitting: “We have made life a bit difficult for ourselves.”

Jonny Wilkinson is expected to be fit for the start of England’s Six Nations Championship despite having his comeback from injury curtailed.

London Irish 15 Newcastle 19

ENGLAND boss Clive Woodward last night faced up to his looming World Cup squad selection, and admitted: “There will be some outstanding players left behind.”

ARGENTINA winger Octavio Bartolucci snapped his Achilles tendon in a club match at the weekend and is out of the World Cup.

Wales 9 England 43

England coach Clive Woodward today revealed fly-half Charlie Hodgson and centre Mike Catt are unlikely to be fit in time to feature in his World Cup plans.

Iain Balshaw enhanced his World Cup chances with two tries as England sank Japan with a nine-try blitz at Tokyo’s National Stadium.

ENGLAND will field five international rookies in next Sunday’s non-cap fixture against the Barbarians at Twickenham.

England coach Clive Woodward today threw down the gauntlet to his fringe players to stake their claims for a place in his World Cup squad.